Bears Could Turn to Former All-Pro Safety to Replace Eddie Jackson

The 2024 free agency legal tampering window opens Monday, March 11, but teams are already free to sign players who’ve been cut loose this offseason.

One of those players is former All-Pro safety Kevin Byard, who starred with the Tennessee Titans before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles last season. The Eagles cut ties with Byard on March 1.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Chicago Bears are already expressing interest in signing the ball-hawking defender.

The #Bears hosted FA S Kevin Byard on a visit yesterday, source said. The former All-Pro was with the #Titans his entire career until a trade to the #Eagles last season.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2024

Byard entered the NFL as a third-round pick of the 2016 NFL Draft and quickly emerged as one of the top safeties in the league. He had a league-best eight interceptions in 2017 and has had four or more interceptions in all but two seasons since.

The Bears released Eddie Jackson in February and could look to replace him with a veteran like Byard, who’d bring experience and ball production to a relatively young secondary.

Spotrac projects Kevin Byard’s market value at two-years, $14.4 million, which may be a bit high considering the over-saturated safety market this year.

Byard will be 31 at the start of the 2024 season, likely making him eager to sign with his next team before free agency officially starts. He’s an accomplished player, but his advanced age could push him down the list of soon-to-be free agents.

The Chicago Bears have several roster needs that could be addressed with high-priced free agents. If general manager Ryan Poles can sign Byard to a team-friendly deal, it’ll be an early offseason win.